Autumn Beauty: A Guide to Revitalising Your Skincare Routine for the Colder Months

Soon, the time will come to air out your winter wardrobe and start investing in some woolly numbers; it may still be August, but autumn is right around the corner. The chilly run-up to Christmas can dry out your skin, so it's wise to start thinking about those heavy-duty moisturisers and lip balms before fine wrinkles begin to appear. Your first point of call should be your skin care routine, so out with the old and in with the new!

Get Healthy

If you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times: beauty starts on the inside. Staying active and eating right is the best way to glow throughout the colder months (even if all you want to do is curl up in bed and hibernate). Bundle up and go for a run through your local park or, if you can't face the biting cold, nip to the nearest gym to supercharge your skin.

Okay, so we've all been guilty of rolling into bed with make-up still plastered to our face. But during the winter, you need to find the inner strength to cleanse, tone and moisturise before you hit the pillow. If you suffer from dry skin, invest in a luxury cleansing balm (we like the Emma Hardie Amazing Face cleansing balm), and follow-up with a spritz of toner to prep the skin before moisturiser.

Pile On The Hydration

Your summer moisturiser just won't hack it during winter, especially if you have naturally dry skin. Invest in rich oils that replenish and repair -- not just for your face, but your entire body too. Neutrogena Deep Body Lotion is an autumn hero and easy on the wallet; just slather it onto parched skin after a long day battling the arctic elements!

Glycolic Acid: The Secret Ingredient

There has been a lot of chatter in the beauty sphere recently about an ingredient that promises to solve all of your skincare worries. The name may sound frightening, but fear not -- it's a highly soluble fruit acid that derives from sugar cane, and is often found on the ingredients list of most over-the-counter treatments.

For anyone seeking an anti-ageing skin product that actually works, or for sufferers of hyperpigmentation or acne, glycolic acid is a true 'wonder ingredient' for its hydrating and exfoliating properties and with regular use, can lead to clearer, glowing skin. Get your fix either through a toner (the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner is a great option), or moisturiser.

Pucker Up

If you don't have a lip balm in every coat pocket, you're in for a nasty outdoor experience. Chapped lips are no one's idea of fun and can leave you feeling sore and unhappy all day. An easy remedy: Burt's Bees tinted lip balm. It's both practical and adds a pretty splash of colour to your pucker, to brighten up those bleak autumn days.

The Weekly Scrub

Once or twice a week, you need to treat your skin. It's worth investing in a good quality, nourishing face mask and an exfoliator. Slough off dead skin cells with a gentle face scrub (nothing too harsh, as it can damage your skin) and apply your mask.

There are plenty of nutritious and affordable masks on the market, but we would recommend Lush's range, made from all natural ingredients. Just keep it in the fridge, so it stays fresh, and apply for ten minutes.